Why did you choose to work at WDW?

[Anna]

What a great story Zazu! That sounds like a fun job to have! My husband always says when he retires he'd like to drive the boats that run from Port Orleans resorts to Downtown Disney. He loves meeting people from all over the world and loves talking ( a typical teacher.) He also has lifeguard and CPR certification.

[GMC]

My husband has a teaching job but decided to apply for part-time at Universal. He was hired as a ride op for one of the more popular rides and he just comes in when he feels like working. He's not even put on the schedule but just shows up. He worked a couple of days a week in the summer and then showed up for a few days on Thanksgiving and Christmas break.

that is very appealing, with me starting school and two of my attractions going down (to supplement my already low seniority) i might look into Universal Hollywood to see if it's the same situation, then agian, due to the fact that we have DOSH they might actually have to give me a scheduled shift or two if I go into ride ops.

[Anna]

There are two ways to do that at Universal Orlando. First you sign on for seasonal only.

The two ways to have no schedule but have hours when you need it:

(1) Say you want to work school holidays only when you are hired. Several teachers only work summer vacations. Then if you want to pick up some other shifts just go into work on any day you feel like working and say you want to rescue that day. Pick your choice of the ride that you want to rescue for that day and work. It's kind of like substitute teaching in that you can work only when you feel like working.

(2) The second way to only work when you want to come in is the way my husband works. He told them he had a fulltime job and was only working there for fun. He works very hard when he is there and is one of the best themers on the ride. In fact, the manager over operations for the entire park has given him several recognition awards for his theming and guest interaction. He got his first award from him on the very first day on the job and another award on the 3rd day. The operations manager just happened to be at the ride off and on that week for other reasons and my husband stood out with his guest interaction. What's funny is my husband didn't even know who he was and why he gave him a "Cause for Applause."

My husband worked a couple of days a week in the summer and when school started up again he told them he wouldn't be working until next summer. After school started he would show up on a weekend and if he saw they looked understaffed, he'd go suit up and show up to pitch in. During all the hurricanes aftermaths this year, he knew they would need extra help as some people weren't able to come into work so he just showed up and was needed on his ride. Then on Thanksgiving day, Christmas Eve and Day, New Years eve, he showed up. He knew they would need him and even if they weren't understaffed, anyone who was already working that wanted to go home, could go home. The other ride ops were usually clamoring to see if he could take their shift. Now he probably won't work again until Spring break, if he feels like it or maybe not until summer.

[Stduck]

Well I started working at Disneyland because 1 I needed a job and 2 I needed something that would prevent me from going back to Legoland. Legoland was great for me cause it was seasonal and when I went back to school I could just leave.

Disneyland is great now cause they do work around my class schedule. I am kind of concerned about this off season because of the lack of hours. But I am doing alright now. I had also dreamed of working at Disneyland when I was a little.

[coldfire409]

This is not to completly knock Universal, but when I started to work at WDW my one roomate got a job at Universal within a few weeks. Currently even with the low wages that Disney pays I'm making $1/hour more than my roomate, and we have been working for 4 years with our respective companies. I don't know how much he pays for his health insurance, but with the way Disney is going one of my resolutions is to leave Disney by the end of the year, but that is pending on my graduation. I plan on going to law school in Miami when I'm finished, so I will no longer be able to work for Disney anyways.

[Anna]

I guess a lot depends on if you are a lead or manager after 4 years at WDW or Universal. I just know about the starting wage and Universal has a higher starting wage.

How satisfied are you with your working conditions such as how management treats you? How satisfied is your roommate with his working conditions? I would probably choose WDW if I decided to work part-time as I love interacting with younger guests. In fact, WDW is what I was looking at as I am a retired elem. teacher but lately I've been hearing lots of complaints on how employees are treated at WDW. There seems to be less complaints from Universal workers about management. Most I have talked to think that they are treated well at Universal except for the occassional guest abuse. This is one of the reasons I asked the original question as I am interested in working at WDW someday.

Congratulations on your career move!

[coldfire409]

Well, I wouldn't say that WDW is the greatest place to work at. I've had some great managers, and I've had some terrible managers. The Chris mentioned earlier in the posting I think I know. I had worked with him at Disney, and I didn't care much for working with him. I'm not a lead or manager, and I have no intentions on becomming one. My roomate has transfered to vallet and now makes a fortune in tips, when he works. From what I've heard Universal has it's good points and it's bad points just like Disney. Currently I have some of the best managers I've ever had my entire time at Disney. One of the biggest drawbacks to WDW is the Cast Deployment System. I hate it quite a bit and I've heard rumors that in one of the lawsuits the CDS records are being subpoeniaed to see if there is any question of CM fatigue that could have been prevented. Also at Disney raises are automatic every year, at Universal they are based on merrit. Now merrit raises are generally a good idea, but the problem is at Universal some managers will only give out a 1% no matter how good you are.

[abc]

How much are the raises at WDW. I know at d-land its 2 times a year (anniversary and cost of living), and quite hefty raises (like 3-10% per raise), but I am curious how they work at wdw.

[LittleOriginalOne]

I chose to work at WDW when I was ten years old and here on my first visit. My mom thought I was kidding but when I applied and was accepted to University of Central Florida all because it was near WDW she knew I was no longer kidding.

Yea the pay basically sucks when you're starting out but I love my job way too much to go some where else where they'll pay me up to $1 more just for being bilingual. It's a whole lot of fun when people from back home ask me what I'm doing up here and I tell them I spend all my time at the Magic Kingdom, they do tend to get a little jealous.

[Chabobo]

I have always wanted to work WDW entertainment. I think is just a pride thing. To me it doesnt get much better and I wanted to work for the best. The pay is not much and its easy to get lost in the shuffle, but when you get to see Disney through the eyes of the kids interacting with the characters I would work here for life for free. You never know whats going on outside of a families visit to WDW, soomeone maybe dying, their family life might suck, but just being able to make their life happy for just a little while really makes me tear up. And sure there are guest that are jerks and that dont listen, but the ones that do enjoy themselves are who I work for. The kids that run up and hug you with love that yuo've never been hugged with by anyone else, makes it all worth it.

I think this song should be Disney's theme song,

Come In
And stay a while
Cast the world aside for now
Give yourself the chance to live,
And try your best to smile

Sometimes its hard to relax
but you need to take the time.
Pleasantries can be some help
if you search until you find...

The one who takes
your fondest dreams
And turns them into now.
Plesant dreams can be today
Come in
and stay
A while.


I dont know who its by, and there's more but thats all i can remember. And if you heard it sung by my show chior, you woud have been bawling...